Riot in Fort Collins: Party responsibly, CSU

Hundreds of people attended a block party that lead to tear gas being thrown into the crowd after party goers started throwing glass beer bottles at officers.

CSU knows how to party.

And generally, we know how to do it responsibly.

What started out as a peaceful social gathering Saturday night near campus turned into a “riot” as it has been classified by authorities, replete with violence, destruction of property and tear gas from the police.

Was the police response a little over the top? Past enormous parties — the Ram’s Pointe pool party comes to mind — have been broken up without resorting to tear gas, so it makes you wonder.

With the violence and destruction exhibited by some members of the crowd, however, such a response by our law enforcement officers may have been their only perceived option.

Events such as Saturday’s riot, regardless of how justified participants may feel, are the exact sort of events that provide fuel for special interest groups such as Team Fort Collins in their efforts to implement a social host ordinance in the city (holding party hosts responsible for underage drinking and littering of their guests).

It’s the end of the semester and stress is at an all-time high — it’s good to find a release for that. At the same time, though, keep it classy Rams, and be respectful of the property of other members of this community during your revelries.

CSU definitely knows how to party, but the violence and the destruction of private property just isn’t us, and is not how anybody should want our university to be perceived.

This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU.